Football training device



July 17, 1962 v. c. WEIDMAIER ETAL 3,044,776

FOOTBALL TRAINING DEVICE Filed Nov. 12, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 P Vrnon $.Weidmaier 4 Samual lMicolino 0 I' I warms? mlvfitizy y 1962 v. c. WEIDMAIER 'ETAL 3,044,776

FOOTBALL TRAINING DEVICE Filed Nov. 12, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,duven For; Vernon 6.Widmmev JSamuel J. Micolino 3,044,776 Patented July 17, 1962 3,044,776 FOOTBALL TRAINING DEVICE Vernon C. Weidmaier, 4305 Hiclnnan, and Samuel J. Nicolino, 335 Dunham, both of Des Moines, Iowa Filed Nov. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 852,456 10 Claims. (Cl. 273-55) This invention relates to an athletic training aid and more particularly to a football training means.

Of all athletic games, football is the most difficult for a team to practice prior to the actual contest. One reason for this is that to seriously indulge in football practice, a given team must have a similar or second team as a practice opponent. Obviously, the second team is not enthusiastic in acting as mere shock absorbers for the first team. Some effort has been made to solve this problem by using suspended stuffed dummies for tackling purposes. The objections to dummies, however, are that they do not provide the proper resistance and the coach is unable to determine either the force of the charge or whether the delivered impact was forwardly and upwardly or just forwardly.

Still another objection to the presently used dummies was that the coach could not well stand in front of the dummy for observation and direction purposes. Also, by the use of such dummies, it was almost impossible to work out timing sequences.

Therefore, one of the principal objects of our invention is to provide an efficient football practice tackling means that may be used by one person or a plurality of persons.

A further object of this invention is to provide a football training means that permits the coach to observe and direct the players from a position directly in front of the players.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a football training aid that makes possible timed training maneuvers.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a football training means that offers suitable yieldable resistance in tackling practice.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a football trainer that will indicate whether or not a user is tackling the device in a forwardly and upwardly direction.

Still further objects of our invention are to provide a football practice means that is economical in manufacture and durable in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Our invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination, of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in our claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of our charger,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of our football training device taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and more fully illustrates its construction,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the resilient shock resistors,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged rear view of one of the pad units and illustrates its various adjustments,

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the football passing mechanism taken on line 66 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 7 is a view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 3.

In these drawings we show a three-man charger but inasmuch as each charger unit is a duplicate of the other, it is merely a simple matter to increase the length of the device and add additional charger units to accommodate any suitable number of men simultaneously using the machine. The entire construction is below the view of the charging players to enable coaches to observe the action and also to enable them to use wave drills.

the forward end of each of these runners 11 is an up wardly extending vertical post 12. These posts 12 support an elongated horizontal shaft 13 which is of a height only slightly above the top plane of the base 10, as shown in FIG. 3. The shaft 13 is forward of the base portion 10 and is parallel thereto as shown in FIG. 2. Secured to the shaft 13 and the base 10 is a plurality of spaced apart A-frames. Each of these A-frames consists of two pipe legs 15 and 16. Supported at the tops of these A-frames is a horizontal elongated shaft 17. This shaft 17 is parallel to the shaft 13 but is located above and to the rear of the shaft 13, as shown in FIG. 3. The numeral 19 designates a handlebar or like secured to the shaft 17 and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom to a position above the base platform 10. This member 19 provides a hand hold for the coach when he is standing on the platform 10 and is observing and directing the football practice.

We will now describe in detail the individual charger units and which, as herebefore indicated, are duplicates of each other. Therefore, in describing one charger unit, it will be understood that thesame numbers used for the same will be that of each of the other charger units.

The numeral 20 designates a channel arm U-shaped in cross section and having its lower end operatively rotatably secured to the shaft 13. Slidably mounted in the channel arm 20 is a second channel arm 21 also U-shaped in cross section. The arm 21 has its lower end portion adjustably slidably telescoping within the arm 20. The numeral 22 designates a bar extending across and a part of the arm 20. The numeral 23 designates a wing headed bolt shaft threaded through the member 22 and capable of engaging and holding the arm 21 in various desired positions of its sliding movement, as shown in FIG. 5. To adjust the height of the upper end portion of the arm 21, the member 23 is loosened to permit the sliding of the arm 21 and after the desired position has been obtained, the member 23 is then tightened to rigidly lock the arm 21 in the arm 20 and against undersirable accidental sliding movement relative to the arm 20. The numeral 25 designates an elongated rectangular plate having suitable resilient padding 26 on its face, as shown in FIG. 3. The flat surfaces of the arms 20 and 21 extend forwardly and the forward fiat surface of the arm 21 is engaged by the plate 25. The numeral 27 designates a bolt secured to the rear center area of the plate 25 and having its length extending I through the arm 21. The numeral 29 designates the nut on the rear end portion and to the rear of the arm 21.

This nut 29 is of the wing type to facilitate its manual manipulation. By this structure the plate 25 and its padding 26 may be adjustably rotated to assume a horizontal position or a vertical position, as shown in FIG. 5. When a the desired position is obtained, the nut 29 is tightened to rigidly lock the plate 25 to the arm 21. To obtain height adjustment of the plate 25 and its pad 26, the arm 21 is vertically slidably adjusted within the arm 20, as herebefore described. To more rigidly hold the plate 25 in either a vertical or horizontal position, as shown in FIG.

5, we have provided four spaced apart lugs 30 which are arranged in a rectangular manner on the rear end of the plate 25 and which are adapted to extend rearwardly at each side of the upper portion of the arm 21. The numeral 31 designates a sleeve slidably embracing the shaft 17.

This sleeve is adjustably secured to the shaft 17 by ascrew an e /7e der 35. The numeral 37 designates a shaft having one end pivoted to the upper end of the arm and its rear end slidably extending into the cylinder 35. The numeral 39 designates a piston on the rear end of the shaft 37, in the cylinder 35, and in engagement with the forward end of the spring 36, as shown in FIG. 4. Obviously, any manual charging onto the pad 26 will move the pad 26, plate 25, arm 21, arm 20, and shaft 37 rearwardly, as shown by broken lines in FIG. 3. The arm 20 will pivot around the shaft 13 and the bearing 33 will pivot around the shaft 17. However, the movement of the plate and its pad 26 toward the shaft 17 will be yieldingly resisted by the coiled spring 36. The numeral 40 designates a horizontal ground engaging member extending rearwardly from the base platform 10. The base platform 10 and the member 40 are connected by a leaf finger 41, as shown in FIG. 3. This leaf finger 41 yieldingly holds the base platform 10 and member 40 in horizontal alignment.

By this construction, a coach may easily determine whether or not the charger is using the technique of lift blocking, i.e., whether or not his impact is both horizontally and upwardly. If the ground runner members 11 remain horizontally and upwardly and in alignment with the member 40, it will indicate that the charger is exerting only horizontal force. On the other hand, if the runner members 11 have their forward ends raised, as shown by broken lines in FIG. 3, the coach will .know that the charger is exerting force upwardly as well as horizontally. The leaf finger 41 has its rear end pivoted to the ground member 40 and its free end extends to lap over the platform base 10, as shown in FIG. 3. The numeral 42 designates a bracket on the ground member 40 and extending over the leaf finger 41. The numeral 43 designates a winged screw threaded through the bracket 42 and positioned directly over the leaf finger 41. This screw 43 serves as an adjustable stop for limiting the upward swinging movement of the leaf finger 41 when the forward end of the unit is lifted by the charger. Thus, by the adjustment of the screw 43, any desired degree may be had for limiting and determining the upward swinging movement of the forward endof the unit, as shown by broken lines in FIG. 3.

The numeral 45 designates an arm having one end rotatably embracing the shaft 13. Secured to the outer free end of the arm 45 is a football 46. The numeral 47 designates a foot lever having one end rotatably embracing the shaft 13. The numeral 49 designates a coil spring having one end secured to the arm 45 and its other end secured to the foot lever 47, as shown in FIG. 6. Normally the coach will stand on the base platform 10 with his hands grasping the grip member 19. When the coach wishes to start the exercise, he will snap the football and this is accomplished by merely actuating the foot lever 47 downwardly with one foot. The downward movement of the foot lever 47 will swing the football arm 45 from a lowered grounded position to a snapped upward and rearward position as shown by broken lines in FIG. 6.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have provided a highly desirable football practice device. The body engaging pads 26 and their holding plates 25 may be adjusted to various desired vertical positions and also may be adjusted from horizontal to vertical positions or vice versa. With the thumb screw 32 in loosened condition, the entire charger unit may be horizontally slid to various horizontal positions on the shafts 13 and 17, as shown by broken lines in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Our device is light and strong. However, if additional weight is needed for performing certain training, additional weight besides that of the coach may be placed on the platform 10.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of our football training device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of our invention,

and it is our intention to cover by our claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

We claim:

1. In a football training device, a base portion, a first horizontal shaft operatively secured to said base portion, a second horizontal shaft operatively secured to said base portion and positioned above and to the rear of said first shaft, an arm pivoted at its lower end to said first shaft, a cylinder operatively embracing said second shaft, a coil spring in said cylinder, a piston shaft extending rearwardly into said cylinder and operatively engaging the forward end of said spring; said piston having its forward end operatively secured to said arm, a plate opera- .tively secured to said arm, a. pad member on said plate, a ground engaging member, means for hinging said ground engaging member to the rear of said base portion, and an adjustable means for limiting the movement of said base portion relative to said ground engaging member.

2. In a football training device, a base portion, a first horizontal shaft operatively secured to said base portion, a second horizontal shaft operatively secured to said base portion and positioned above and to the rear of said first shaft, an arm pivoted at its lower end to said first shaft, a cylinder operatively embracing said second shaft, a coil spring in said cylinder, a piston shaft extending rearwardly into said cylinder and operatively engaging the forward end of said spring; said piston having its forward end operatively secured to said arm, a plate operatively rotatably adjustably secured to said arm, a pad member on said plate, a ground engaging member, and means for hinging said ground engaging member to the rear of said base portion, and an adjustable means for limiting the movement of said base portion relative to said ground engaging member.

3. In a football training device, a base portion, a first horizontal shaft operatively secured to said base portion, a second horizontal shaft operatively secured to said base portion and positioned above and to the rear of said first shaft, an arm pivoted at its lower end to said first shaft, a cylinder operatively embracing said second shaft, a coil spring in said cylinder, a piston shaft extending rearwardly into said cylinder and operatively engaging the forward end of said spring; said piston having its forward end operatively secured to said arm, a plate operatively vertically adjustably secured to said arm, a pad member on said plate, a ground engaging member, means for hinging said ground engaging member to the rear of said base portion, and an adjustable means for limiting the movement of said base portion relative to said ground engaging member.

4. In a football training device, a base portion, a first horizontal shaft operatively secured to said base portion, a second horizontal shaft operatively secured to said base portion and positioned above and to the rear of said first shaft, an arm pivoted at its lower end to said first shaft, a cylinder operatively embracing said second shaft, a coil spring in said cylinder, a piston shaft extending rearwardly into said cylinder and operatively engaging the forward end of said spring; said piston having its forward end operatively secured to said arm, a rectangular elongated plate operatively secured to said arm, a pad member on said plate, a ground engaging member, means for hinging said ground engaging member to the rear of said base portion, and an adjustable means for limiting the movement of said base portion relative to said ground engaging member.

5. In a football training device, a base portion, a first horizontal shaft operatively secured to said base portion, a second horizontal shaft operatively secured to said base portion and positioned above and to the rear of said first shaft, an arm pivoted at its lower end to said first shaft, a cylinder operatively embracing said second shaft, a coil spring in said cylinder, a piston shaft extending rearwardly into said cylinder and operatively engaging the forward end of said spring; said piston having its forward end operatively secured to said arm, a plate operatively rotatably adjustably secured to said arm, a pad member on said plate, means for locking said plate in at least two positions of its rotation, a ground engaging member, means for hinging said ground engaging member to the rear of said base portion, and an adjustable ineans for limiting the movement of said base portion relative to said ground engaging member.

6. In a football training device, a base portion, a first horizontal shaft operatively secured to said base portion, a second horizontal shaft operatively secured to said base portion and positioned above and to the rear of said first shaft, an arm pivoted at its lower end to said first shaft, a cylinder operatively embracing said second shaft, a coil spring in said cylinder, a piston shaft extending rearwardly into said cylinder and operatively engaging the forward end of said spring; said piston having its forward end operatively secured to said arm, a plate operatively vertically adjustably secured to said arm, a pad member on said plate, means for locking said plate in various vertically adjusted positions, a ground engaging member, means for hinging said ground engaging member to the rear of said base portion, and an adjustable means for limiting the movement of said base portion relative to said ground engaging member.

7. In a football training device, a base portion, a first horizontal shaft operatively secured to said base portion, a second horizontal shaft operatively secured to said base portion and positioned above and to the rear of said first shaft, a plurality of spaced-apart charger units each comprising; an arm' pivoted at its lower end to said first shaft, a cylinder operatively embracing said second shaft, a coil spring in said cylinder, a piston shaft extending rearwardly into said cylinder and operatively engaging the forward end of said spring; said piston having its forward end operatively secured to said arm, a plate operatively secured to said arm, and a pad member on said plate, a ground engaging member, means for hinging said ground engaging member to the rear of said base portion, and an adjustable means for limiting the movement of said base portion relative to said ground engaging member.v

8. In a football training device, a base portioma first horizontal shaft operatively secured to said base portion, a second horizontal shaft operatively secured to said base portion and positioned above and to the rear of said first shaft, an arm pivoted at its lower end to said first shaft, a cylinder operatively embracing said second shaft, a coil spring in said cylinder, a piston shaft extending rearwardly into said cylinder and operatively engaging the forward end of said spring; said piston having its forward end operatively secured to said arm, a plate operatively secured to said arm, a pad member on said plate, a griptmeans secured to said second shaft and extending rearwardly therefrom, a ground engaging member, means for hinging said ground engaging member to the rear of said base portion, and an adjustable means for limiting the movement of said base portion relative to said ground engaging member.

9. In a football training device, a base portion, a first horizontal shaft operatively secured to said base portion,

a second horizontal shaft operatively secured to said base portion and positioned above and to the rear of said first shaft, an arm pivoted at its lower end to said first shaft, a cylinder operatively embracing said second shaft, a coil spring in said cylinder, a piston shaft extending rearwardly into said cylinder and operatively engaging the forward end of said spring; said piston having its forward end operatively secured to. said arm, a plate operatively secured to said arm, a pad member on saidplate, a foot ground engaging member, means for hinging said ground operated ball moving means on said base portion, a engaging member to the rear of said base portion, and an adjustable means for limiting the movement of said base portion relative to said ground engaging member.

10. In a football training device, a base portion, a first horizontal shaft operatively secured to said base portion, a second horizontal shaft operatively secured to said ,base portion and positioned above and to the rear of said first shaft, a plurality of spaced-apart charger units each comprising; an arm slidably pivoted at its lower end to said first shaft, a cylinder operatively slidably embracing said second shaft, a coil spring in said cylinder, a piston shaft extending rearwardly into said cylinder and operatively engaging the forward end of said spring; said piston having its forward end operatively secured to said arm, a plate operatively secured to said arm, and a pad member 9 on said plate, a ground engaging member, means for hinging said ground engaging member to the rear of said base portion, and an adjustable means for limiting the movement of said base portion relative to said ground engaging member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

